The cabinet meeting on Tuesday 8, February 2011 has come to the following decision:
The Cabinet has endorsed the draft Announcement of the Office of the Prime Minister on the Guideline for Thai Transliteration of Arabic as proposed by the Royal Institute and has forwarded the announcement to the Bill and Subordinate Legislation Scrutiny Committee for further action.
Key points of draft announcement:
The announcement will only repeal the existing guideline on the Thai transliteration of Arabic as appended in the Announcement of the Office of the Prime Minister on the Guideline for Thai transliteration of French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Arabic and Malayu promulgated on 5 March B.E. 2535 (1992). The repealed guideline will be replaced by the Announcement of the Royal Institute on the Guideline for Thai transliteration for Arabic promulgated on 15 March B.E. 2553 (2010)
The Cabinet endorsed the fact-finding study report that was initiated following numerous complaints lodged by locals against the operator of Phu Thap Fah gold mine in Khao Luang Sub-district, Wang Saphung District, Loei Province. Key findings of the report prepared by the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister are as follows:
1. The Ministry of Industry shall postpone the new expansion plans and approval of concession licenses (for plot no.104/2538 and others) of Tungkham Company Limited until investigation of the contamination incident has been concluded and the results of various environment and livelihood impact assessments including the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) have been finalized.
2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Industry shall instruct agencies and departments under their command to render their full cooperation to Loei Province in its conducting of field investigations and analyses of the water quality around the mining site. The investigation will examine closely the operation and management of the mine by Tungkham Company Limited as well as the allegation of noise and odor coming from the mining site at night. Investigators will also scrutinize the mining procedures to make sure they conform to safety standards to prevent against cyanide leakage. Relevant agencies are also to increase the frequency of conducting water safety tests and to regularly change testing sites. These measures are put in place to increase the confidence of locals and communities around the Phu Thap Fah gold mine.
3. Loei Province and relevant agencies shall undertake joint studies and discussions to come up with viable communication channels to enhance the locals’ understanding of the contamination processes and to allow them to voice their opinion.
The Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Finance’s (MOF) opinion that District Cooling System and Power Plant Company Limited’s plan to expand its electricity generating capacity will not incur any opportunity cost on the business operation of Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA). The ministry explained that the latter’s business operation will only be affected upon the completion of the construction of phase 2 of Suvarnabhumi Airport, adding that both the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) will then experience similar impacts on their business operations. MOF therefore thinks that it is not necessary for DCAP to make any compensation to MEA. The Cabinet has instructed the MOF and relevant agencies to calculate the opportunity costs to be incurred by MEA, EGAT and PTT arising from the completion of the construction of phase 2 of Suvarnabhumi Airport and to present their findings to the Cabinet accordingly.
The Cabinet has acknowledged the progress report on the measures to revive the tourism sector and to assist tourism business operators affected by political problems as submitted by the Cabinet Resolution Coordination and Mobilization Committee.
Key highlights of report:
The Cabinet Resolution Coordination and Mobilization Committee has been notified by the Secretariat of the Cabinet that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), in its meeting (35/2553; meeting no.109) on 27 December B.E. 2553 (2010), resolved to provide special assistance to business operators affected by the political unrest that took place during April — May B.E. 2553 (2010). Fifteen business operators located in the following electricity distribution areas were eligible for assistance:
1. Klong Toey Rama 4 area, Klong Toey District;
2. Ratchaprasong Intersection, Rama I Road, Ploenchit Road, Ratchadamri Road;
3. Victory Monument Area, Phayathai District Under this special assistance measure, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has absorbed the difference between and the minimum electricity fees and the actual fees for electricity usage incurred by the affected business operators in the total amount of Baht 2,633,023.
The Cabinet has acknowledged the progress report on the implementation of His Majesty the King’s Royal Initiative as submitted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT). The Royal Initiative was conceptualized following His Majesty’s granting of an audience to a group of people on 30 July B.E. 2553 (2010) at Chalermprakiet Building, Siriraj Hospital.
Highlights of report:
The Secretariat of the Cabinet has followed up on the progress of the implementation of stated Cabinet resolution with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, which has reported the following:
1. Creation a Prototypical Statistics Database (The National Statistical Office)
The National Statistical Office (NSO) has developed a 5-year statistics database (B.E. 2554-2558; 2011-2015) which will integrate data pertaining to the country’s social, economic, natural resources and environmental conditions. The information derived from the database could be used in the formulation of government policies and, strategies, economic and social development plans as well as state administration plans. The NSO had organized a brainstorming conference with relevant agencies and its outcome contributed to the development of the 5-year statistics database.
2. Implementation of a Climate Change Study
The Thai Meteorological Department has conducted an analysis on future climate conditions in addition to its routine tasks of observing the climate condition, monitoring temperature changes (the El Ni?o phenomenon), and conducting long-range weather forecasts. The Department has also carried out a study to assess the past and future climate change patterns from B.E. 2504-2643 (1961-2100) based on Climate Scenario A2 (constant economic development and excessive use of energy) using the regional climate modeling system PRECIS (Providing Regional Climate for Impact Studies). The assessment results will be compared with the real figures obtained from meteorological stations throughout the country from B.E.2504-2552 (1961-2010). Public relations activities have been carried out to notify citizens of the implementation of the project.
3. Establishment an Automatic Telemetric Rain Gauge System
The Thai Meteorological Department has completed the installation of 820 automatic rain stations throughout the country, which will relay information to the telemetry operation center. Aside from improving the effectiveness of the warning systems for flash floods, forest floods and riverbank overflows, the project aims to integrate information on water flow along with the work of relevant disaster alert agencies. The information derived from the system could be utilized in the formulation of water resource management plans as well as in the management and decision making process of the country’s leaders. One of the many benefits of the project is that it will guarantee the availability of complete precipitation data, which can be retrieved in an instance. Also it will enhance the prevention and mitigation efforts in flood-prone areas as well as allow for the comprehensive management of the country’s water resources, all of which will contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the country. Public relations activities have been carried out to notify the public of the implementation of the project.
The Cabinet has endorsed the minutes of the discussion on bilateral aviation cooperation between Thailand and Burma and the draft air transportation services agreement between the two governments as proposed by the Ministry of Transportation. The stated documents will be presented to Parliament for its review and approval before forwarding it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to proceed with the official signing of the bi-lateral agreement. After the signing, both countries will exchange diplomatic letters to confirm the coming into force of the agreement.
--Cabinet Meeting (Abhisit Vejjajiva) February 8, 2011--